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Photo = Hyundai Motor Company |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] A joint battery plant in Georgia by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution is set to begin operations later this month, despite disruptions from a large-scale immigration enforcement action last year.
According to Semafor on April 14 (local time), Hyundai Motor President Jose Munoz said at a Washington, D.C. event that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid did not alter the company’s strategic plans.
Munoz emphasized the importance of the U.S. market, stating, “Our top priority is the United States. If we succeed here, we can succeed anywhere.”
In September last year, ICE raided the construction site, detaining 475 workers, including 317 Korean nationals who were classified as undocumented due to visa issues. The workers were released after eight days, returned to Korea temporarily, and later reentered with proper visas to resume work. The incident halted construction and was expected to delay completion by two to three months.
However, Munoz said the company recovered the schedule by applying a fast-paced execution approach, allowing the plant to proceed as planned.
Completed in December 2025, the facility spans approximately 2.5 million square feet and currently employs more than 500 workers. 일부 배터리 생산 공정은 이미 가동 중이며, full-scale operations are expected to begin by the end of this month.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
